Sand blast helmet



Dec. 29, 1931. BOWERS 1,838,611

SAND BLAST HELMET Filed Feb. 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwveniloz Frccfcrt c5 MBoWers,

Dec. 29, 1931. BQWERS 1,838,611

SAND BLAST HELMET Filed Feb. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue ntoz Frederick MBowera,

Patented Dec.r29, 1931 UNITED A E ria'rialqr OFFICE,

FREDERICK BOWERS, OF CHESTER, Z PENNSYLVANIA' we BLAST HELMET Application flied February 21, 1930.. serial No. 430,190.

This invention relates to improvements in sand blast helmets or the like,and more esp'ecially to improvements in helmets of the type which are'provided with a depending canvas or other fabric skirt. p

.In helmets of the type havinga depending flange of relatively stifi' fibrous material which encircles thehead, it f has been customary to .arrangeat the front portion thereof, a curved celluloid or. screen window which conforms to the outline of the flange, and as such window mustextend over a considerable area of the flange, it is relatively diflicult to properly reinforce "the frame of the same, orto protectthe window against blows from external sources. 7 One of the objects of the present invention isto provide'such a helmet with. an inset or recessed screen'frame which will permit the window to be posi tioned rearwardly .of the front of theflange,

thus giving the screen considerable protection against accidental shocksand abuse, as the helmet proper, '(which is of sturdy construction) will receive'most'of the damage.

Another object is to provide a window frame of this character, which is of angular shaped metal construction, the angular formation adding great strength to the helmet where mostneeded. V r p A still further object is to provide a window of this typeincluding a strip of screen cloth or celluloid bound in a sheet metal frame which not only protects and stiffens Y the cloth, but allows the window to be readily attached to, or removed from the helmet, by use of wing nuts or the llke, arranged in the helmet in such manner as not to interfere withthe wearer. I I v I Another object is to furnish such a window with an angular clamping plate or follower piece which will 'add, additional strength and protection to the screen,'and will effectively prevent any san d or thelike entering the helmet by working its. way through, about the bound edge of the screen.

In helmets of the type having a canvas or 7 other fabricskirt, it has been foundthat such skirt is liable to wear rapidly at the front thereof, and another object ofthe pres.-

ent invention isto provide such a helmet with view on the line 2- -2*0f Fig. 1.,

a removable protecting apron which will guard the front portion of the cape or skirt, and protect the same against excessive wear at the front.

fVVithth'e foregoing objectsv outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consistsin the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accom- Fig. 6 is a top planview of the outer frame.

Fig. 7 is a view similar wing. s, but musl trating a modification;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the screen unit gFig tl is an elevation of the screen unit. In the drawings, 5 designates the crown portion of the helmet, and 6 the depending circular flange portion of the same. These parts'are preferably formed of some durable relatively stiff light fibrous material, and the :flange is cut at its front portion 7 to provide an openinghavingcurved upper and lower edges 8 and 9, edges 10." V

'A stamped sheet metal outer frame cooperates with this opening and comprises a border flange 11 which conforms to the curvature of the exterior of the front of the flange, and is fixedly secured thereto by rivets or'the like 12, in such manner that a re 'cessed or channel-shaped portion 13 of the frame is inset. This channel-shaped portion has outwardly diverging upper and lower and parallel vertical side frame before the latter has been folded to form an apertured flange on the screen.

walls 14 and 15, and a plain portion 16 therebetween, providing a window opening 17 Screws 18 have their heads anchored to the ends of the plain portion 16, and extend into the flange of the helmet, but as the flanges of such helmets are quite roomy, and head engaging arms are provided in the crown portion thereof, these screws will not 7 interfere with the wearer.

The angular window frame heretofore described, cooperates with a screen or other transparent cover strip 19, and this strip is bound by a sheet metal frame in the manner indicated in Figs. 8 and 9. It will be observed that this frame 20 has a window opening 21, and that after the strip is placed thereon, the edges of the frame are folded into the position shown in Fig. 9, so as to clamp and protect the edges of the strip. The edge portions of the frame are preferably provided with apertures 22, and when the edges are folded over, portions of the screen may enter these holes so as to more firmly clamp the screen in position. After the screen has been clamped in place, apertures 23 are punched throughthe ends of the screen, as well as through the folded end portions of the frame, and these apertures receive the screws 18. At this point it Wlll be observed that the manufactured screen unit as shown in Fig. 9, is of about the same size as the plain portion 16 of the sheet metal outer frame, and after the screen unit has been placed on said screws, the clamping plate 24 is applied. This plate is also preferably made of sheet metal, and includes curved border portions 25. which conform to the inner surface of the flange 6, and are arranged directly rearwardly of the border portion of the outer frame. The inner frame or clamping portion is also of channel shape lengthwise, and has upper and lower outwardly diverging walls 26 which are arranged directly rearwardly of the diverging walls of the outer frame and telescopically engage the latter, and furthermore, the inner frame has a vertically disposed plain wall 27 which conforms to the wall 16 of the outer frame, and is provided with a window 28 that registers with the window 17. Apertures 29 in the plain portion of the inner frame or clamping plate, receive the screws, and thumb nuts 30 on these screws are used to removably secure the screen unitand clamping plate to the outer frame.

Instead of making the bottoms of the channels of the inner and outer frames straight, and having the screen unit plain, it is ob vious that these portions may be curved as shown in Fig. 7, in which 31 indicates the curved apertured portion of the outer frame, 32, the screen unit, and 33 the curved apertured portion of the inner frame or clamping plate.

\Vhether the apertured portions of the infacturerfor renewal purposes.

As heretofore stated, it has been found in practice that the cape or fabric skirt por tion 35 of helmets of this character are apt to wear through at the front thereof, due in a measure to sand particles rebounding from the work against the helmet. For the purpose of protecting the front portion of the cape, I have provided the same with an apron 36 formed of some suitable wear resisting substance, such as flexible thick rubber or rubberized cloth, and in order that this apron may be readily replaced, I detachably connect the same to the flange 6 by any suitable means. For example, studs 37 may be arranged in a row along the lower edge portion of the flange, each stud having an enlarged base 39 which fits against the front surface of the flange, and a shank 40 which extends through the flange and is riveted on its inner end against a washer 42, which engages the inner surface of the flange.

The upper edge portion of the apron is provided with slits or button holes43 to receive these studs.

Obviously, when the helmet is in use, the apron will protect the front portion of the cape, and consequently, the latter should last as long as the fibre portions of the helmet, especially if the apron is renewed whenever necessary.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and advantages of the invention may be readily understood, and it is apparent that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

What is claimed and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a helmet having a rigid upper portion and a depending fabric cape, of a wear resisting apron of flexible material detachably secured to the exterior of the rigid portion of the helmet, and projecting downwardly in front of the forward portion of the cape.

2. In a sand blast helmet or the like, having telescopically engaging inner and outer frame members with inwardly recessed walls provided with registering window apertures, a transparent closure unit for said register ing openings comprising a transparent strip,

and a rigid framing therefor having spaced apertures, and screw clamping bolts detachably connecting said frame members and engaging said spaced apertures of said closure unit. i

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FREDERICK M. BOWERS. 

